Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos are in the Mutua Madrid Open final after the withdrawal of German pair Tim Puetz and Alexander Zverev. The news means the Argentine and Spaniard will play their first doubles final this season. The team picked up three titles on clay last year, including the Masters 1000 in Rome. The two players joined forces in 2019 and it appears that their chemistry and consistency are going to make them one of the pairs to watch on this clay swing.

Mektic and Pavic, team to beat

In the other semi-final, the team formed by Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic won in two straight sets (6-4, 6-2) against Belgian pair Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. The Croats have become practically invincible. This season they have claimed five titles, four of them on hard court and one on clay. In addition, before playing in the Mutua Madrid Open, they took the spoils at consecutive Masters 1000 in Monaco and Miami.

The Balkan duo are currently the men to beat on tour. The two Croatian players decided to come together at the start of the season and their journey together could not have got off to a better start. Their last defeat came at the end of March, when they lost the final of the ATP event in Dubai against Colombian pair Juan Cabal and Robert Farah. Since then, they have won every match and every tournament they have played. Tomorrow, they will be bidding to seal their sixth crown of the season and continue the stunning run they have enjoyed since joining forces.

A very recent clash

They have only previously met once, in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo ATP Masters a few days ago, with victory going to the Croats. However, they did require a super tiebreak before sealing the win. Therefore, tomorrow’s match is sure to be a very close encounter between two pairs that will have to give their all if they are to take the Caja Mágica crown.